The Implementer | July 2020
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Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
The Implementer | July 2020
NOTABLE NEWS
COVID-19, Climate & Higher Ed
On Thursday, July 16th, we were honored to host a virtual panel discussion between Elsa M. Núñez, President of Eastern Connecticut State
University, Secretary John Kerry, and Rafael Reif, President, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The focus of the discussion was on the lessons learned from the rapid response to COVID-19, and how those lessons can be applied to our response to climate change.
It also focused on defining what the higher education sector's role is when it comes to solving global challenges, including when it pertains to racial injustices.
There were well over 100 attendees who dialed into the virtual conversation. If you were able to join us for this unprecedented conversation, thank you. If you were not, the discussion was recorded and is now available on Second Nature's YouTube channel for viewing.
Photo: Second Nature
MONTHLY MERIT
UMN Morris Carbon Neutral: Electricity
This month, the University of Minnesota Morris made the announcement that they had achieved carbon neutrality in electricity on their campus.
In doing so, it brings them a step closer to becoming 100% carbon neutral.
60% of the electricity on campus comes from two wind turbines that the university owns. The remainder of the power comes from a back-pressure steam system, and from PV solar systems.
Congratulations to the University of Minnesota Morris for taking this major step toward your carbon neutrality goal!
RAPID RECOGNITIONS
Thank You for Helping Us, Help You, Accelerate Your Climate Action.
The colleges and universities listed below are Climate Leadership Network signatories and/or University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members that financially reaffirmed their commitment to climate action this month. Second Nature is thankful for their financial support that allows us to offer the resources, relationships, credibility and knowledge to accelerate climate action in, and leverage the strengths of, colleges and universities.
Bellevue College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Bucknell University
California State University-Channel Islands
California State University-Los Angeles
Catawba College
Central Community College
Delta College
Eastern Connecticut State University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Southern University
Goshen College
Hollins University
Humboldt State University
Loyola Marymount University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Montgomery County Community College
Northeastern University
Oberlin College
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Saint Peter's University
Shasta College
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
State University of New York College at Oswego
Swarthmore College
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, San Diego
University of Connecticut
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Maryland Baltimore County
University of New Hampshire
University of San Francisco
University of Toronto
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Villanova University
Weber State University
Miami University Joining the Climate Leadership Network
In September, Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) President Greg Crawford will sign the climate commitment of the Presidents' Climate Leadership Commitments.
Congratulations to the University's campus and leadership for making this commitment, and we look forward to you being part of the Climate Leadership Network!
NACUBO 2020 Campus Efficiencies Posters
The National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) virtually held its annual meeting a few weeks ago, and although normally they highlight campuses doing sustainability work through showcasing posters at the event, since this year it was held virtually, they highlighted campuses through video recordings and coinciding slide decks.
We were excited to see that three out of the four campuses highlighted are Climate Leadership Network signatory/University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) schools! Congratulations!
President Ono's Op-Ed
Effective June 30th, University of British Columbia President and Vice-Chancellor Santa Ono, became the leader of the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) having succeeded University of California President Janet Napolitano.
At the end of June, President Ono had an op-ed about how we can apply the lessons we are learning from fighting COVID-19, to our fight against climate change, printed in the Vancouver Sun.
BONUS BULLETIN
If you are a Climate Leadership Network signatory who has Pledged, Planned, Proceeded and Published... You're Already In!
Race to Zero Campaign
On World Environment Day 2020, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Action (UNFCC) launched Race to Zero; a global campaign for a healthy, resilient and Fair, Zero Carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.
Those who have already signed onto the campaign include businesses, cities, regions, higher education institutions, investors and 120
countries.
All members have committed to the same overarching global goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. The objective of the campaign is to accelerate momentum leading up to COP26.
There are four criteria to be a part of this campaign:
1. As a leader at your institution, pledge that your campus will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest.
2. Prior to COP26, have a detailed plan in place explaining how your school will accomplish your carbon neutrality goal.
3. Proceed with your climate action plan (i.e. put your plan into action!).
4. Submit and publish your progress annually via the Second Nature Reporting Platform.
Offset Project Peer Verification *Opportunity*
Are you interested in getting involved with the Offset Network, and learning how a peer verification happens? The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) is seeking a peer verifier for its Loyd Ray Farms anaerobic digestion project. The project turns the waste from 8,600 hogs into biogas, which is then used to create renewable electricity on-site. Carbon offsets are generated by destroying the captured methane in either a 65kW microturbine or in a flare.
Duke can provide verification guidance material developed by a Michigan State University team who last evaluated the project, and Offset Network resources would also be available to the peer-verifier.
Please contact Matt Arsenault if you’re interested in learning more or potentially verifying the project.
We Want to Hear From You!
In this new reality that we're in, now more than ever, we want to hear from you on how we can ensure that we are supporting you and your campuses in the best ways possible. Coinciding with this, if you are a Climate Leadership Network signatory institution, please complete our annual Climate Leadership Network Needs Survey (it will take less than 5 minutes to complete!).
The survey will be open until August 10, 2020. If you have any questions, please contact: Steve Muzzy (smuzzy@secondnature.org).
RELEVANT RESOURCES
July Publications:
July Webinars:
OTHER RESOURCES
ENERGY STAR® Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative
This month, the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® program launched a new initiative that colleges and universities can participate in to learn more about the amount of energy and water that are used on their campuses.
If you are a college/university who may be interested in participating, ENERGY STAR is asking you to complete an Expression of Interest form.
Higher Education Sustainability Initiative (HESI) Special Event
Earlier this month, the Higher Education Sustainability Initiative held a virtual special event focused on the United Nation's High-Level Political Forum's theme of “Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realising the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development." The special event was recorded and is now available to watch.
OPPORTUNITIES
Happening Today! There is Still Time to Register.
Webinar: GRITS Goals: A Powerful New Tool for Climate Action Planning
Thursday, July 30, 2020 | 1-2PM EDT
Join Second Nature in partnership with the Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI) and SIMAP for a webinar to preview GRITS Goals, a new suite of features within the GRITS project-management platform.
Speakers:
- Mark Orlowski, Founder & Executive Director, Sustainable Endowments Institute (SEI)
- Rob Andrejewski, Director of Sustainability, University of Richmond
Also Happening Today.
Webinar: Tough Conversations: Race and the Environment
Thursday, July 30, 2020 | 7PM EDT
Join Vermont Law School students who were brought together by Audubon Vermont to discuss how fighting for racial justice and the environment can be harmonized. This webinar is the first in a series of youth-led conversations.
American Climate Leadership Summit 2020 (Virtual)
Thursdays, August 6-27, 2020 | 2PM EDT
Hosted by ecoAmerica, this Summit will offer different virtual, three-hour sessions every Thursday during the month of August, all focused on climate change. Second Nature is excited to be an endorser of this Summit! You can find more information about this Summit - including the session topics, by clicking on the button below.
Webinar: Restoring College Sports Amid COVID-19: Leveraging Climate Action
Monday, August 3, 2020 | 1-2PM EDT
Hosted by AASHE, this webinar will include collegiate athletic directors who had incorporated sustainability assets into their athletic programs, and how they worked with campus sustainability teams to do so.
Accelerate Your Climate Awareness.
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